Automatic safety gas lighter



Aug. 21, 1934. J, w. CAULI AUTOMATIC SAFETY GAS LIGHTER Filed July 28, 1931 I INVENTDIR Jimmy liffazaz ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 21, 1934 UNETED STATES PATNT AUTOMATIC SAFETY GAS LIGHTER Application July 28, 1931,'Serial No. 553,578

2 Claims.

This invention relates to gas lighting devices, with particular reference to types used in connection with the burners of gas or oil stoves used for domestic purposes.

The ordinary gas range is provided with a constantly burning pilot burner normally having a small flame, but capable of emitting a long thin radial flame, directed over the burners of the stove, so that when exerting pressure upon. a

- spring controlled valve, such of the burners as are turned on have the gas flowing from them ignited.

Due to the steady, constant burning of this pilot light, the aggregate flow is considerable 1'5: and adds to the expense of the use of gas.

Also, these pilot lights may become clogged, due to their small openings, failing to. operate when required; and further, the small flame becoming extinguished due to the clogging, allows the gas to flow unignited, creating an unpleasant 'odor throughout the residence.

Therefore, one of the objects of the present invention is to provide a gas lighting device which neither uses nor consumes gas and therelore cannot release it into the atmosphere.

A further feature is in the provision of a form of gas burner to which an easily operated, simple and efficient device may be readily installed, positively safe and practically without expense in operation, and which can be applied to substantially any type of stove or range by any one with very little labor.

These advantageous objects are accomplished by the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described and shown in the accompanying drawing, forming a material part of this disclosure, and in which:

Fig. l is a transverse sectional view of a burner control valve showing the electrical connections.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same taken in a plane at a right angle to Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a partial side elevational view simi- 'lar to Fig. 2, but showing a modification in construction.

Fig. 4 is another like view showing a further modification.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of a burner made in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of a further '50'modification of the electrical contacts.

Referring to the drawing in greater detail, the numeral 10 designates an ordinary gas supply pipe or header with which are engaged control valves 11 provided with the usual plug operated handle 12 directing the stream of issuing gas into an inlet 13, provided with controllable orifices for the admission of air to be mixed with the this admixture passing through pipes, connected at their inner ends with conventional gas burners.

In the present invention, the burners 15 are formed to present a series of radial arms, one of which is provided with a raised chamber 1? arranged over the end of the arm and into which gas is supplied by the opening 18 and liquids cannot enter if spilled inadvertently, as often occurs.

Formed in the outer end Wall, enclosing the chamber, is an opening in which is set a sleeve or bushing 20 through which enters a wire con- 0 ductor 21 having its inner end adjacent the opening 18.

A current of opposite polarity is delivered from an intensifier to conductors having branches 31 which, as shown in Fig. 1, are connected with brackets 32 held rigidly by insulated screws 33 to the body 11 of the valve.

These brackets are essentially Z shaped, and have secured at their free ends insulating plates 34, such as mica or fibre, carrying angular conductors 35, these elements having lava guards 36 extending inwardly on their underside-s toward the burner body.

Secured in the lower ends of the valve plugs are screws 38 having enlarged heads against which rest plate conductors 39 held in position by compression springs 40 surrounding the body of the screw.

These plates have secured to their reduced extending ends helically wound springs 41, carrying at their free ends contacts 42 adapted to engage the conductors 35 when the valve is opened, sweeping over its angular surface and then returning to normal position when the valve handle 12 has been turned to completely open the valve.

In Fig. 3, the insulation element 36 is omitted from the contact 35 and a corresponding plate of insulation 43 is fixed on the contact In Fig. 4, a reversal of conditions is to be seen, in which the screw 38 carries a plate 39 and twisted at its outer free end to produce the contact 42' bearing on its lower surface a dielectric plate 43; correspondingly a closely wound helical spring 44 is carried by the insulation element 34 and bears at its outer ends a single contact 45.

In Fig. 6, a further modification is shown in which the contact member 4.2a is a flat leaf spring. Obviously, in the modification shown in Fig. i, the elements 44-45 may be substituted by a fiat leaf spring or any other resilient contact.

From the foregoing it will be observed that the action of opening the gas control valve for any of the burners, causes the conductor 42 to wipe over the surface of the mating contact 35 completing a circuit by which the contact 21 is caused to emit a spark at its end, within the chamber, by reason of the burners being in circuit with the spark intensifier 24; however, when the valve is closed the contact 42 is caused to sweep over the insulation 36 causing no spark in the chamber 18, and it will be apparent that substantially the same conditions prevail in the modification shown in Fig. 4, in which the parts are merely reversed.

While certain preferred embodiments of this device have been shown and described, it will be understood that changes in the form of arrangements, proportions, sizes and details thereof may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a control valve switch for a gas burner having its gas supply controlled by said valve,

a bracket fixed on the body of the valves, an insulated contact arranged at an angle to the axis of said valve and fixed on said bracket, an insulated guard on one side of said contact, and a conductor resiliently mounted on the valve plug to move over the face of the fixed contact when opening said valve to close an electric circuit to an igniter and to return over said guard when closing the valve.

2. A control valve switch for a gas burner having its gas supply controlled by said valve, comprising a substantially Z-shaped bracket having one leg secured to the body of the valve, an insulating plate on the free leg, a conductor on said plate facing the valve body and inclined at an angle to the valve axis, an insulated guard on the underface of the conductor, another conductor resiliently mounted on the valve plug to move over the face of the fixed conductor while opening the valve to close an electric circuit to an igniter and to return on the face of said guard while closing the valve.

JAMES W. CAULI. 

